BBC News recommends Waqrapukara as an alternative destination to Machu Picchu that you can not miss in your travel to Cusco.
The Waqrapukara fortress is an important archaeological park in Cusco. Despite not being well known among travelers, it is gaining recent popularity thanks to the BBC. In addition, this site is located in Acomayo town, more than three hours away from Cusco city. It is famous for its interesting shape, resembling two horns. At the same time, Waqrapukara is at 4100 masl.
The BBC News article "Waqrapukara, the mysterious and spectacular Inca fortress in Peru to which tourists hardly ever visit" considered the site as an alternative to visit instead of Machu Picchu. According to the site, the main reason is the increasing number of tourists that currently visit the wonder of the world. The second reason is that Cusco has plenty of lesser-known archaeological attractions that deserve more attention, as is the case of Waqrapukara.
BBC News highlights the altitude of the site, which makes it ideal to observe the surrounding landscapes. Moreover, it also talks about the cultural value of Waqrapukara. In fact, it is believed that more than three cultures used it before the Incas.
Waqrapukara is considered more attractive because of its magical atmosphere, natural stone formation, and the fact that it only receives a few visitors daily. If you decide to visit it, you will hike in solitude and admire the landscape at your own pace. Finally, the site has a campsite on the foothills where you can enjoy a camping night with total quietness.
How to get to Waqrapukara?
It will take about 5 hours, depending on the stops you decide to make and the route chosen. You might have to depart very early and take a car that will take you to one of the surrounding localities close to the site. After, you will walk for about an hour on a plain terrain and a final short steep to reach the top. You will appreciate the Andean landscape and the many communities along the way. It is recommended to take a guided tour with a local travel agency.
Sources: BBC News
Published on January 25th, 2024.